IDC: Apple’s iPad dominates tablet market in Q4 2012

January 31, 2013 - 10:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - When it comes to the tablet market, it’s no surprise to learn the last quarter of 2012 was another record one, with a total of 52.5 million units shipped worldwide. Apple’s iPad once again took first place, although it slipped slightly to 43.6 percent market share, The Next Web reports.

Samsung and Amazon grabbed second and third, respectively, but even their combined market share is below that of Apple.

The latest estimates come from IDC, which says the tablet market grew 75.3 percent year-on-year (up from 29.9 million units in 2011′s fourth quarter) and increased 74.3 percent from the previous quarter’s total of 30.1 million units.

IDC attributes Apple’s lead in the market with 22.9 million units thanks to a strong iPad mini launch as well as availability of the fourth generation full-sized iPad. Although the company managed a 48.1 percent shipment growth over the same quarter last year, its market share declined for a second quarter in a row (down to 43.6 percent from 46.4 percent the previous quarter).

Meanwhile, Samsung swooped in to take advantage. The South Korean company experienced 263 percent year-on-year growth, shipping nearly 8 million combined Android and Windows 8 tablets during the quarter.

Amazon shipped more than 6 million tablets during Q4, increasing its share to 11.5 percent, up from 8.3 percent the previous quarter, with year-over year growth of 26.8 percent.

Speaking of Google, it looks like the company’s Nexus 7 tablets haven’t managed to help Asus, their manufacturer. The Taiwanese company saw its share slip from 7.8 percent to 5.8 percent despite what IDC says were “continued strong shipments” of Google’s 7-inch device, TNW says.

In fifth place, Barnes & Noble shipped close to 1 million units, increasing its share to 1.9 percent, up from 0.7 percent.

Microsoft entered the market during the past quarter with its Surface tablet running Windows RT, but failed to reach the top five after shipping just shy of 900,000 units.